Tip - Decorate Your Get Away Vehicle

When choosing your departure, be sure to consider if you want to decorate your get away transportation.

Photo provided by Sharpe Photographers

Tip - Bring Out The Classics

If you have a family member or friend with a classic car hiding under a cover, ask them if you can use it as your wedding day transportation. They will most likely be honored that you asked and be able to score some great pics of their classic beauty.

Photo provided by Allison Stahl Photography

Your Grand Groom - Guest Blog Posting For Wishpot

We love to write up guest posts for Wishpot's wedding blog, a favorite dynamite blog around here. One of the most recent posts we sent them was on the groom's responsibilities leading up to the wedding day, which we shared with Percy of Percy Sales Events, headlined with a photograph from Sharpe Photographers. Read the entire post here.

Here's what we posted from Dynamite Weddings:

Many grooms feel removed from the responsibilities that come along with planning a wedding. Usually, by no fault of their own, grooms are asked to take on limited responsibilities such as choosing their groomsmen, helping create the guest list, pick out a tux and show up! Seems simple enough. But these days, many grooms welcome the involvement and let’s be honest ladies, it’s their day too! Relinquishing some responsibility will be a burden off you and you may be pleasantly surprised with the outcome. There’s nothing that says a little oversight isn’t appropriate but treat your groom like the adult that he is and let him share in planning for the big day. There may be some discussions and compromises between you, but this could be your first time facing a challenge together and will prepare you for your life as a married couple. Tasks for your groom, in addition to the aforementioned (and obvious ones, like show up sober):

• Meeting with the DJs or bands that you’re both interested in
• Attending catering and cake tasting appointments to give input (Guys are very good at food tastings! They know what they like.)
• Checking vendor references and online critics
• Arranging for transportation for the two of you and possibly large party transportation for out of town guests
• Setting up room blocks and negotiating rates for out of town guests
• Suggesting alternatives to traditional favors for the wedding (maybe a photo booth or caricature artist?!)
• Choose the alcohol to be served at the reception
• Assign ushers (if not groomsmen)
• Choosing & purchasing gifts for your groomsmen
• Purchase a wedding day gift for your lovely wife
• Invent a creative way for the wedding party to enter the reception (fun song, share silly details about each wedding party member (ex: "Introducing John, the best man, not only for this wedding but also the best man for exercising Scarface quotes in any situation.")
• Select a song for the Mother/Son dance
• Writing a thank you speech for the night of and possibly something brief for the rehearsal dinner
• Choosing the destination for the honeymoon

Tip - Look Into Large Party Transportation

Consider renting large party transportation to get your out of town guests from the hotel to the ceremony/reception. This allows guests to get to know each other, guarantees they'll be on time and makes sure that no one is drinking and driving.Photo courtesy of Luxury Limousines of Sacramento

Tip - Test Drive Your Transportation

Be sure to visit the transportation company, or use someone highly recommended, before booking them for your wedding day. Just because there's a picture of a brand new, ultra clean limo online doesn't always mean that's the case when you see it in person. There could be stains, cigar/cigarette odor, poorly maintained leather, etc. Be sure to inspect, like you would any other wedding day service.Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Family Transportation

Many brides are offering limousine transportation to close family members in addition to the bridal party. To accommodate older or less mobile passengers, ask your limousine company about cars with a “fifth door”. A “fifth door” refers to vehicles that have an additional door towards the front of the vehicle on the right hand side (away from traffic). This added feature prevents family members from having to do the “sit and slide” all the way around the limousine bench. This feature is becoming more prevalent in recent years.

Trend provided by Luxury Limousines
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Tip - Make Sure To Preview Your Transportation

Make sure when you are booking a limousine service, you go and see their cars first. The way they maintain their vehicles will give you a good indication of how well they will take care of you!
Tip provided by Luxury Limousines
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Decorated Limousines

Many brides like to see their ‘get-away’ vehicle decorated with a “Just Married” sign, but some companies are taking it a step further. The interior of the limousines can be decorated in your wedding colors! What better way to start off the day in a very personal way!

Trend provided by Luxury Limousines
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Limo Trial Runs

You know that you save when you buy in bulk - the same applies to limousine service! Many brides are booking with their limousine company for transportation to/from their wedding, rehearsal dinner, bachelor/ette parties, etc.
This gives you a chance to try out the company before your big day, and often times gets you a big discount that is unavailable when booking your wedding alone.

Trend provided by Luxury Limousines
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Tip - Check for Hidden Fees

Don’t get caught by hidden fees!
Make sure you ask what is included when you get a quote from your limousine vendor.

Many brides have been taken aback when they ask for a ‘complete quote’, only to find out that extra fees and gratuity have not been included. Beware of any company charging tax – there is no sales tax on limousine service in the state of California.

Tip provided by Luxury Limousines

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Trend - Not Your Average Taxi

With the increase in wedding ceremonies and receptions taking place in one location, it may be hard to get a limousine company just for the time before the ceremony and after the reception (a split charge).

However, some brides and limousine companies are getting creative with the wedding packages. Some companies offer two packages with multiple cars which can be used on the wedding day, or for a separate event (such as the rehearsal dinner). Because of this flexibility, brides will often use one car in the morning to take the girls to the beauty salon before being taken to the ceremony, and then use the second car after the reception.

Or, if the location allows for it, brides will use the cars as a shuttle – the bride and bridesmaids are transported first, then the car goes to pick up the groom and groomsman, and sometimes will even make an additional trip to pick up guests. Then, after the reception, people are shuttled back home at scattered times.

Tip provided by Luxury Limousines

Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists

Tip - Limousine Service Hidden Fees

Don't get caught by hidden fees! Make sure you ask what is included when you get a quote from your limousine vendor. Many brides have been taken aback when they ask for a "complete quote", only to find out that extra fees and gratuity have not been included. Beware of any company charging tax -- there is no sales tax on limousine service in the state of California.

Tip provided by Luxury Limousines.
Photo courtesy of The Memory Journalists.